Anthony Pettis has plenty of reasons why he handpicked Clay Guida as his next opponent.

Guida doesn’t need to hear any of them. He’s made up his mind on how he feels about the situation.

“I think it’s the biggest mistake he’s ever made in his career,” Guida said. “I think it’s great for me, not so great for him.”

Pettis and Guida meet in the headlining bout of Saturday’s “The Ultimate Fighter” 13 finale card at the Palms. It’s a contest Pettis, the final WEC lightweight champion before the promotion merged with the UFC, never anticipated having.

He could either not fight and wait for his title shot, which White strongly advised against, or select his next opponent. Pettis (13-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) wanted Guida (28-11 MMA, 8-5 UFC) and the UFC obliged.

Guida sees it as an opportunity to seize all of the hype Pettis, who is aptly nicknamed “Showtime,” has built.

“The UFC, Joe Silva and Dana White, are going to realize who they want for the title shot,” Guida said.

Guida has reinvented himself since a tough stretch a year-and-a-half ago when his future with the UFC was in flux. Guida lost two straight in late 2009, to Diego Sanchez and Kenny Florian, to drop his UFC record to 5-5. A third straight defeat usually spells the UFC releasing a fighter from his contract.

Not even wanting to think about that possibility, Guida packed up from his home near Chicago and moved to Albuquerque, N.M., to train at Greg Jackson’s camp. He’s won three straight fights since, all by submission, and said his worth ethic after the move was responsible for the resurgence.

“Everyone trains hard in the UFC and mixed martial arts, but I know I outwork everybody,” Guida said. “There are probably higher-skilled than me, better fighters all around but when it comes to the nitty-gritty, hard work and heart, I know I’m better.”

Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson slammed his hands down on his UFC flyweight championship belt. Somewhere else in Rogers Arena, Rory MacDonald surely looked on with envy. Johnson and MacDonald put on dominant performances in the UFC's first trip to Vancouver in three years. Johnson defended his title for the fourth time, not allowing Ali Bagautinov to win any of their five fast-paced rounds. That couldn't quite top MacDonald, who barely let Tyron Woodley touch him in an all-important welterweight co-main event. MacDonald hopes the performance leads him to an opportunity to claim space alongside Johnson in the UFC champion's club.